Niagara Police Grade 2 band collapses

Ontario is down to only two confirmed Grade 2 bands after the reported collapse of the Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band following the departure of Pipe-Major Dave Goodall, Lead-Drummer Graham Kirkwood and Pipe-Sergeant Patricia Kirkwood, as well as several other members, leaving the organization with only its Grade 4 band.

The three former leaders of Niagara have reportedly joined the Grade 3 Penetangore Pipe Band, under that band’s new pipe-major, Jake Watson.

In September 2009 the Grade 1 Peel Regional Police announced a new partnership with Watson and Penetangore, with the latter band serving as a feeder system.

The collapse of the Niagara Police leaves Ontario with only the Hamilton Police and Glengarry confirmed in Grade 2. The Burnett’s & Struth Pipe Band, which debuted in 2009 in Grade 3, and Penetangore reportedly may each apply for promotion to Grade 2 following an influx of personnel in each band.

So sorry to hear this news. I was very grateful to spend 4 season with the Niagara Bunch from 99-2002. Highlighted by 3 top 5 finishes at the worlds. It was a great group to be a part of. Cheers, Hugh Armstrong Alberta Caledonia AKA that kid from Winnipeg, Alberta….

could it be that many more were leaving, but the three names mentioned were the most news-worthy? the band had a rough go last summer… maybe a few have left since then? and let’s be honest… if it was feasable to carry on without the parting leadership (that is, if there were people willing to take on those leadership positions), they wouldn’t be folding. i don’t see it as a cop-out… just very unfortunate circumstances.

Folding is perhaps a little misleading. Some of the membership, including the former leaders, have migrated to a newly forming GRII band in the area. Per NRPPB web site last week, the band still had 12 pipers and healthy mid section. However, therer were only two side drummers listed with no named Pipe Major or Lead Tip. I would expect that it is a temporary setback and that the band will recover in the near future. However, the real answers lie with the existing players who have not commented officially on the band status to date.

Two years ago, after about eight years away from it, I was looking for a piping change, so had another go at solo competition. I’d stopped shortly after my mother died suddenly in 2003, having lost the desire to keep … Continue re …

TIP OF THE DAYPipers, try not to anticipate the doubling, playing ahead of the beat. Worry about placing the G gracenote right in time and the second gracenote of the doubling will follow. Listen to yourself playing the melody with only the G gracenote.Bruce Gandy